-
agreement
Britain and the US agree to cooperate in strategic
planning in the event the US enters the War. It was also
agreed in principle that the defeat of Germany would be
the first priority. This was followed on 9-12 August by the
signing of the ‘Atlantic Charter’ by Prime Minister Winston
Churchill and President Roosevelt .The charter set out
common wartime principles and emphasised the strength
of an Anglo-American alliance, despite US neutrality -
operation barbarossa
Germany attacks the Soviet Union – Operation
Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia. -
second front
Stalin calls for the creation of a ‘second front’ in Europe to
relieve pressure on the Russian forces battling the
German army. -
axis attack
Japan attacks the United States naval fleet at Pearl
Harbour. The Japanese were an ally of Nazi Germany
and the attack meant that the Axis Powers of Germany
and Italy effectively declared war on the US. In response,
the US declares war on Japan, and then Germany and
Italy. -
bad weather
Eisenhower selected June 5, 1944, as the date for the invasion; however, bad weather on the days leading up to the operation caused it to be delayed for 24 hours. On the morning of June 5, after his meteorologist predicted improved conditions for the following day, Eisenhower gave the go-ahead for Operation Overlord. He told the troops: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” -
The in invasion starts
On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied Sold
